The other post about changing jobs for more time for the Bwca got me thinking. Would you retire to the bwca area so you can go in when ever you want? Weather looks good this week throw the canoe in the truck get permit and go. I travel 3000 miles roundtrip for 4days in the BWCA. On the ride home I'm planning next years trip. If you live there all the time does it take the special feeling you have about the BWCA. What are your thoughts?

Quite often, our "if we win the lottery" conversation involves a home either in ely or up the gunflint and another down south somewhere it's warm. I like the idea of the ozarks,because of the fishing. My bride doesn't think thats warm enough. If she won't move some place on the edge of the bw I guess we're spliting the money!!LOL.

Ten more years and I'll be there. Been planin for 20 years....

I bought a house in Ely about a year ago.

Good investment, low taxes (compared to the Mpls/St. Paul area) and only 4 hours for "home". One of the adult kids lives there and the rest of the family passes though often.

Ely is great except for Jan, Feb, March. The winters are really long and really, really cold. The town takes on a very different atmosphere in the winter.

And, there are lots of houses and property for sale. Check it out-you might be surprised how good the deals are.

It's in the "30" year plan. Hoping to buy some land and set up a yurt.

Do you think you will enjoy the experience now that you have it whenever you want?

The BWCA has not lost its "draw". The son who lives there spends as much time in the BWCA as possible. Living in Ely just makes it all easier access.

Funny but the thing that would make it more possible to live in Ely is the development of broadband/cell phone technology so that people could create their own business on the web. It's probably there now, but it's probably spotty. I dunno, don't go to Ely much.

Have a piece of land to go to? Possibly. Live there exclusively? Thought long and hard about leaving Chicago- really can't. Best possible balance is to be here and go everywhere else I love.

I would move/retire there in a second. I'm only 41 and my therapy allows me to admit that now so I have a few more years to wait. I hear Canada is nice for the next 2 months until winter returns, any nice towns near Quetico/Wabakimi?

We've talked about working for one of the outfitters May-Sept when I retire. Live here the rest of the year. The older I get, long, cold winters are becoming less attractive!

quote gsfisher13: "I would move/retire there in a second. I'm only 41 and my therapy allows me to admit that now so I have a few more years to wait. I hear Canada is nice for the next 2 months until winter returns, any nice towns near Quetico/Wabakimi? "

My friends grandfather has a place near Nestor Falls, great area.

Yep, that's what I'm doing now. Finally made the move a couple months ago, to a cabin we've had a few years. Loving it. Of course, who wouldn't love it the first couple months? But I think I'll keep loving it a long time. Yes, the winters are long and cold. Longer and colder than Chicago, or Minneapolis. But so much nicer! Still, I'm sure I'll be dying for winter to end come mid-April next year. But that only adds to the allure of spring and summer. And right now it's awesome. There's always vacation . . . I'm excited to have my vacations be FROM here instead of TO here.

We just had 8 days in a row in the 90's and a high of 97, it's just June. Would you prefer hard winter or long hot summer?

quote tobiedog: "Funny but the thing that would make it more possible to live in Ely is the development of broadband/cell phone technology so that people could create their own business on the web. "

Wonderful.

quote chesapeakes: "We just had 8 days in a row in the 90's and a high of 97, it's just June. Would you prefer hard winter or long hot summer?"

Exactly! I moved here from the mid-Atlantic, and it's such a relief to be away from summers there.

Not sure I could retire in Ely. Grand Marais though...

Winters too lng and cold, I'll take the heat of Okla. instead. Kinda weird, but I enjoy the 950mile drive to Ely...waving corn of Iowa...first sight of natural lakes, not Corps of Engineers. Get a lot of thinking done while cruising I-35

If I'm healthy enough when I retire...

I long for Ely alot. Lottery conversations always produce a place in Ely!

quote overthehill: "I long for Ely alot. Lottery conversations always produce a place in Ely!"

We began taking Spring fishing trips to Brule Lake, in 1957. The northshore highway, now called the scenic route, was dotted with lakeshore cabins and resorts, some of which don't exist today. I have, often, regretted not purchasing a Summer weekend property, back then. It would have been a 500 mile trip, from home, but I have heard of some that found that venture, worthwhile. The Superior Northshore is considered by some, to be one of the ten most scenic places in the USA. I have heard that the shoreline gets a lot of snow, but the Lake has a moderating affect on the temperature, in the Winter. Wouldn't it be great to have that access to the BWCA.

I have been coming up to Ely now for my 20th year and have 6 more yrs to work and I hope to move up there in my retirement. I love the area, the people, the fishing, etc. I grew up here in Crook County (Chicago) since 1958 and would love to get out of this place. They suck money out of you left and right. High real estate taxes, high sales tax, crooked politicians, and just the nastiest people in the world. I cannot take this city (Chicago) any longer. Born and raised here is enough...........................and it most definitely is time for a change.

If I won the lottery, I would be up there, permanently, next week!

Absolute DREAM!!! Not only the summers,, but I cannot get enough of winter. Born and raised in MN and now live in IA,,, funny hearing the people say how bad the winters are in IA. Come on. OHHH,, the winter laker trips in a nice wall tent with a stove,, the last minute fall trips for full moon eyes,, -- but being away from the concrete jungle year round and heat and humidity would be icing on the cake!!!!

My wife and I thought about this, but decided to buy property down the road in Grand Rapids, MN instead. She wanted more shopping opportunities. Ely would have been nice. We have found the people in GR are outstanding. Nice, friendly community and great lakes to fish as well. Besides, Ely is just up the road apiece. I don't live in GR yet, but maybe 7 more years.

quote emptynest56: "My wife and I thought about this, but decided to buy property down the road in Grand Rapids, MN instead. She wanted more shopping opportunities. Ely would have been nice. We have found the people in GR are outstanding. Nice, friendly community and great lakes to fish as well. Besides, Ely is just up the road apiece. I don't live in GR yet, but maybe 7 more years.
"

Funny! GR was where I checked out some homes before re-building here in the cities. Awesome homes and lakes available there. For this part of my life with kids I feel I need the metro area (diversity and health care). If $$ were no problem, I'd have a cabin somewhere in the northwoods today, and spend much (all) of my time there after kids are off on their own. I would not get tired of the woods and the water.

My first love was the Bemidji area...purchased a lake lot on Big Turtle back in the late 90's after vacationing there for 15 years...after being introduced to the BWCA/Quetico, north shore of Lake Superior area I'd really love to have a nice cabin there now. However, if it came down to it even though I've never been there I think Rainy Lake would be my choice for a retirement/second home(FISHING).

At some point we'll probably be selling the lake lot on Big Turtle.

I always wondered though if living in my favorite part of the world would lessen my love for it and be taken for granted??

Wonder how health care would affect us as we grew older also...had a cousin that owned a beautiful place on Cross Lake in the Brainard area that moved closer to their health care provider when she developed cancer.

Although I've never spent any amount of time in Grand Rapids the town always seemed like a nice area to live in also.

Dave

We have the option in a little over 2 years to do just this. We're going down to part time or seasonal employment (I'll be 47) in 26 more months. Right now, we're looking at our options to stay and use our home as a "base" or just pick up and move. If we do, we will go someplace closer to BWCA maybe by 1-3 hours away at max.

However, this next year will be spent looking at other locations and options. I'm working as much as I can right now so I can have those options when the time comes.

But to answer the most basic question.... yes, I'd go where ever makes me happy

Ely? Probably not. Grand Marias and the Gunflint appeal more to me.

You travel too far to stay only 4 days. I stay at least a week or I don't go at all (4,000 mile round trip).
Move to Ely? My wife would try slapping some sense into me if I were to suggest such a thing. Two thousand mile trips each way to visit the kids and granddaughter, or make them travel in order to visit us, is just crazy talk.

I like Ely, but enjoy the eastern BWCA and North Shore more. Cooler summers, the heaviest snowfalls in the state in winter, and only 45 minutes to the edge of Duluth. In any case, Ely is only 75 minutes away.

The only other places I'd care to live are SW Montana or western Alberta...

We would love to retire to Grand Marais someday. Small town living, Lake Superior, and the BW right at our doorstep. I don't know how we would handle being so far away from family though.

I'd prefer Grand Marais too but in any case there's still the winter. The days are so short and the cold is so deep. We romanticize life up there because we see May through September. It's a hard life; many businesses close up for the winter. I admire all those who live up there 12 months of the year and wish them the best, including all the amenities they can acquire.

I have 4 days of travel too. Hard to leave the farm with cows and chickens,planting,cutting hay etc.... Glad I have 4 days.

I plan retiring to the place I have which is located within 50 miles of Duluth, Ely, and Tofte. I realize there will be trade offs. I may have to give up amenities available to people retiring to larger population centers, in order to enjoy the scenery and relative remoteness. I won’t miss traffic, but sure hope I will be able to drive safely for a very long time.

quote Wallidave: "... However, if it came down to it even though I've never been there I think Rainy Lake would be my choice for a retirement/second home(FISHING)."

My aunt and uncle have owned a home on Rainy as long as I've been alive. One of my cousins was married in the back yard overlooking the water. Now my aunt/uncle spend about 6 months of the year there and 6 months in AZ. It sure is a gorgeous lake!!

I'd prefer Grand Marais and the Gunflint, but realistically we cannot sell our houses in Michigan now for enough to be able to make that dream happen. And it would make us very far away from our family.

I do sometimes think about getting closer to the canoe country, though. It would be ideal to have a place there and a place here, but I don't see that happening.

Ely, Gunflint, North Shore - I'd move there in a heartbeat if the employment was there. Currently working for the state and my position only has a couple counterparts in the Arrowhead. I watch the job postings a lot hoping to see one of them open. I grew up in Bemidji and Duluth. The cities are great for all the amenities but I look at them all and then ask, which do I really use. Sure all this great stuff is here to see and do but what would I miss? Those things would all be replaced by all the outstanding things to do and see up there. XC ski - I can do it here or there. Twins games, I'll just have to break down and get cable. Walk the dog, mountain biking, BBQ'ing, it can all be done up north. Museums, been to them all. Other things that come up such as shows, concerts and the such - it's just as easy to drive down here on occasion for that than it is to go up to canoe country. Besides, I'd rather live without all the traffic, crime and other general crap that comes with living in the city.

I want a yurt-- I'd prefer GM, but Ely would be fine too. I like the art culture in GM, and I love the big lake. I wonder what it would cost to buy a few acres and put up a yurt. I have about 15 grand saved, in my name only, thinking maybe someday...

My husband loves heat and hates bugs so we will end up somewhere warm for the winter when we retire. But I have already laid down the law that I will be spending May 1st-September 30th up north... with or without him! I am leaning towards the Gunflint Trail as well.

quote luft: "My husband loves heat and hates bugs so we will end up somewhere warm for the winter when we retire. But I have already laid down the law that I will be spending May 1st-September 30th up north... with or without him! I am leaning towards the Gunflint Trail as well."

YOU GO GIRL

I lean east also...I love the North Shore area. The Yurt idea sounds appealing to me also.

Like tremelo, we hope to put up a yurt on some land north...someday. If we're up to it, wouldn't mind retiring somewhere north.

I have been day dreaming about this even though I probably have 35 years till retirement. There are some great places I would retire if I to today but since it is so far off it makes me wonder where I will have to go for seclusion and peace. I am thinking off the beaten path in Canada, I will have have to reassess when I actually get there. My vote for right now would be rainy lake or eagle lake in Canada.